Noah starring Russell Crowe has seen success at the box office with the general public but not everyone is happy about the film. Some claim that the Noah story was hijacked and is inaccurate.
True, there are parts of Noah that are inaccurate. These inaccuracies would be the things that Hollywood uses to make the story more entertaining, though these facts do not appear in the Bible. I’ll name a few without giving the movie away:
- Noah is given snake-skin from the serpent in the Garden of Eden.
- Watchers, fallen angels play a role in Noah’s story
- Methuselah, the oldest person in the Bible, appears in the Noah story
- A ruler named Tubal-Cain is the antagonist
- An army wages battle
- Several ploys to kill characters in the story
- Noah experiences recurring dreams
There are many more. If you remember your Bible story about Noah, you know that none of those things are found in the biblical account.
However, it does not matter. It does not matter if Hollywood added or took away facts from the biblical story of Noah. Heresy you say?
Consider this: secular Hollywood is not the keeper of the story of Noah. Those who believe in the biblical account as found in Genesis are the keepers of the story. Fifty years ago, Hollywood movie makers produced movies like The Ten Commandments, which featured a close parallel to the biblical account. Some expect Hollywood to make a movie like that. You have to remember one thing: Hollywood is in the business of making money. When money is the primary motive, why should we expect those money makers to get it right?
If Hollywood is not the keeper of the Noah story, then our expectations should be low. Very low. Many are coming into this movie with high expectations that this is going to be The Passion of the Christ movie. It is not. Even Passion featured scenes that were not in the Bible. Where was the outcry? In reality, the movie is based on the story of Noah. It did not attempt to claim to be the story.
Many are angry that the story of Noah was messed with. That anger is really coming from the fear that culture is taking away our faith or Christianity. Do not be afraid! Just because one movie studio makes one movie based on the epic story of Noah does not mean the story will change. The story of Noah has been around for thousands of years. It has stood the test of time. So, what’s one movie going to do to the story? It is still found in its true form in Genesis.
In reality, a movie is not biblical canon. Do not treat a film that seeks to make millions as a reflection of a true story in the Bible. Treat Noah as you would any other film. The movie is not a Bible study. It is entertainment. Be entertained.